Blood sample collector



April 29, 1958 E. DAVIDSON 2,

BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTOR- Filed Dec. 27. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EM/L Dav/o $0M /WL SQW I H 7'7'OEWE Y A ril 29, 1958 E. DAVIDSON 2,332,344

' BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTOR Filed Dec. 27, 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EM/L flnr/osou HEDGE? SAMPLE COLLECTOR Emil .ll avidsou, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Application December 27, 1954, Serial No. 477,362

5 Claims; (Cl. 128---276) My invention relates to a blood sample collector and more particularly to an improved blood sample collector which has a resilient receptacle and a valve for controlling the how of blood into and out of the receptacle.

Blood sample collectors of the prior art include partially evacuated glass tubes sealed by puncturable rubber plugs. They are expensive to manufacture and are awkward to use. After the blood samples are collected, the tubes must be sealed and carefully packed for shipment. When the collecting tube is opened, the entire sample must be tested at that time.

I have invented a blood sample collector which includes a valve for sealing the interior of the collector receptacle made of resilient plastic material against the passage of fluid into or out of the receptacle. My collector may be actuated to expel all the air therefrom and this condition is maintained by the sealing means. Fluid may be admitted at any desired rate by actuation of the valve. The blood sampling operation may be intermittently accomplished with my collector without using more than a single collector and without removing the needle from the donors arm, a practice impossible with blood sample collectors of the prior art. My collector is automatically sealed when the sampling operation is complete so that no separate sealing means need be used. My collector is unbreakable so that it may be handled, packaged, and shipped without the care necessary when glass tubes are used in the collecting operation. I provide means for use with the sealing means for adjusting and maintaining the adjustment of the sealing means during a collect ing operation. My collector may be re-uscd without replacing any parts.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved blood sample collector including sealing means operable to seal the collecting receptacle against the passage of fluid into or out of the receptacle or to open the receptacle to receive or expel fluid.

A further object of my invention is to provide a blood sample collector including a resilient receptacle which may be collapsed to expel air therefrom together with a means for sealing the colector against the re-entry of air.

Another object of my invention is to provide a blood sample collectorwhich is substantially unbreakable.

A still further obiect of my invention is to provide a blood sample collector including means for automatically sealing the collector receptacle alter the collecting opera tion has been performed.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a blood sample collector in which the rate of. flow of blood into the collector may be controlled. 7 Another object of my invention is to provide a blood sample collector from which partial samples of blood may readily be withdrawn without contaminating the main body of the blood sample within the collecting vessel.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision tates Patent Ill of a resilient tube provided with a resilient neck in which I dispose a ball to form a valve for controlling the entry of fluid into the tube and the passage of fluid out of the tube. In one form of my invent-ion the valve may be con trolled to regulate the admission of fluid such as a blood sample being collected into the tube. 1 provide a second form of my invention adapted to dispense fluids from the tube While preventing contamination of the interior of the tube.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved blood sample collector.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, drawn on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure l, of my improved blood sample collector.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, drawn on an enlarged scale, similar to Figure 2, showing the action of the valve of my blood sample collector when opened.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of my blood sample collector when it is squeezed to exhaust the air from the collector receptacle.

Figure 5 is a schematic View of my blood sample collector when the valve is being actuated to permit entrance of fluid into the collector receptacle.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, drawn on an enlarged scale, of the clamp which may be employed with my blood sample collector.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, drawn on an enlarged scale, of an alternate form of valve which may be employed in my improved blood sample collector.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of another form of my in- F vention including a filter for preventing contamination of the interior of the collector when the collector valve is actuated to permit passage of air into the collapsible tube.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of my invention in use as a dispenser including means for preventing contamination of the interior of the dispenser during the dispensing of fluids.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation of the form of my invention shown in Figure 9, with the valves in posi tion to relieve the partial vacuum Within the container.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, my improved blood sample collector includes a resilient receptacle which may conveniently be a tube ill. Tube 10 may be formed of any suitable material such as rubber, vinyl, polyethylene, or the like. Preferably, I employ polyethylene which may readily be extruded in the tube form shown in the drawings. it will be appreciated that the receptacle may take any other convenient form if desired. The tube 10 is provided at one end thereof with a reduced end portion 12 to which the collector neck 14 is secured. Neck 14 may be a length of resilient tubing formed of a suitable material such as rubber, vinyl, polyethylene, or the like. It may readily be assembled on the reduced end portion 12 of tube ll? by stretching one of its ends thereover. It is to be understood that neck 14 and an opening in end portion 12 provide a passage for the entry of fiuid into the receptacle it}. The end of tube 10 remote from the portion 12 is sealed in a conventional manner. If desired, the neck 1 could be 'formed of the same material as the tube It) and could.

be made integral therewith.

In order to provide a means for selectively sealing the interior of the tube 10 against the entry of fluid into the tube and the passage of fluid out of the tube, I dispose a valve member such as a ball 16 within the neck 14. The ball 16 is of a slightly larger diameter than the inside diameter of tubing 14 so that it distends neck Ti -i slightly to provide a hermetic seal around the periphery of the ball. The collector assembly may be completed by a hollow needle 18 mounted in a base which is carried by the end of neck 14 remote from the end portion 12 or" tube 2'. make the needle demountable from neck 14. This feature may be employed in the event it is desired to ship or handle the collectors Without accompanying needles.

Ball 16, together with the resilient wall of neck 14, forms a valve which may be selectively opened or closed to seal or open the passage to the interior of the tube 10. As can be seen by reference to Figure 3, the application of pressure to diametrically opposite points on the wall of neck 14 at the location of the ball 16 squeezes some of the material of the wall of neck 14 into the areas to which pressure is not applied. This action causes the portions, other than those to which pressure is applied, of the wall of neck 14 to move away from the ball to permit the passage of fluid through neck 14 past the ball 16. In other Words, such an application of pressure to the neck at the location of ball 16 so distorts the neck Wall that passages 22 and 24 are formed between the neck wall and the ball 16. Owing to the resilient characteristic of the waii material, passages 22 will disappear when the neck is released to re-establish the hermetic seal around the periphery of ball 16. This operation may be performed any number of times to break and reestablish the seal provided by ball 16 without destroying the sealing action provided by ball 16 and neck 14.

In Figures 4 and 6 I have shown a clamp, indicated generally by the reference character 26, by means of which pressure may be applied to neck 14 and maintained thereon for any desired period of time. Clamp 26 includes a U-shaped frame having a first leg 28 and a second leg 30. A threaded rod 32 carried by the leg 28 carries a plate 34 loosely mounted on the end of the rod for rotation with respect thereto. The rod 32 is provided with a knurled knob 36 by means of which it may be turned to move plate 34 toward or away from leg 30. In order to exert clamping pressure on the neck 14 of my collector, clamp 26 is placed about the neck with the ball 16 disposed between the plate 34 and the leg 30. When rod 32 is rotated, plate 34 moves toward leg to exert a clamping pressure on the neck 14 in the region of the ball 16. If sufiicient pressure is exerted, passages 22 and 24 are opened and fluid may pass along neck 14 past the ball 16. When the pressure is to be released, rod 32 is rotated in a direction to move plate 34 away from leg 30. The extent of opening provided by passages 22 and 24 may readily be adjusted by varying the pressure exerted by plate 34 and leg 30 on the neck 14 in the region of the ball 16. Conveniently, l provide leg 30 with an opening 3% with which ball 16 registers when the clamp is in use. The diameter of the hole 38 is slightly greater than ball 16 to stretch the portion of the neck 14 forced into opening 38 by the action of plate 34. This stretching action forms passages 22 and 24 in a manner similar to the manner in which they are formed when pressure is applied to neck 14 at diametrically opposite points at the location of ball 16. If desired, I may provide plate 34 with a re-entrant portion below its pivotal mounting on the end of threaded rod 32. Such a re-entrant portion would have an action similar to that of hole 33.

It is to be understood that the valve member lodged in neck 14 may take any convenient form. In Figure 7 l'have shown an alternate form of my invention in which a pair of balls 40 and 42 are located in spaced relationship in the neck 14. This form of my invention provides a greater surface along the neck 14 which may be grasped to initiate the valve opening action. The valve members need not be balls but may be of any form which will distend the neck to provide a hermetic seal for the associated receptacle. For example, the valve members may 4 be cylindrical, or a dumbbell-shaped member having cylindrical or spherical enlarged end portions.

in the form of my invention shown in Figure 8 no needle 18 or base 2t} is carried by the end of neck 14. in this form of my invention 1 insert a filter 44 formed of any suitable material such as absorbent cotton or the like in the end of neck 14. When it is desired to use this form of my collector to collect a blood sample, valve 16 is actuated and tube to is squeezed to expel the air from within tube it it is to be understood, of course, that the interior of: my collector is sterile. After tube 10 has been collapsed, valve 16 is closed and the atmospheric pressure maintains tube 10 collapsed against the action of the natural resilience of the tube which tends to resume its original form. When the sample is to be collected, the needle, indicated generally by the reference character 46, which communicates with a vein, donor bottle, or the like, may be pierced through the wall of tube 14. Blood will then flow directly from the donors vein or the like into the tube, it being understood a collecting needle communicates with the tube to which needle 46 is attached. When sufiicient blood has been drawn, needle 46 is with drawn from tube 14 and the collecting needle is also withdrawn from the donors vein. The material of which the neck 14 is formed is self-sealing so that when the needle 46 is withdrawn from the neck, no air is permitted to enter the collector through the hole made by the needle. Neck 14 may be formed of tubing made of partially cured rubber or other self-sealing material. After needle 46 has been removed and the sample collected, tube 10 will be in a semicollapsed condition. It is desirable that the interior of the container 10 be at atmospheric pressure to perimt it to assume its normal form. This condition must be brought about without contaminating the interior of the receptacle and the blood sample collected therein. My filter 44 provides means for re-establishing atmospheric pressure within the collecting tube 10 without contaminating the blood sample. If the valve provided by ball 16 and neck 14 is actuated after a sample has been collected, filter 44 permits the passage of air into the tube 10 and traps any bacteria or other contaminating matter present in the air passing into the tube 10. This form of my invention, therefore, provides means for ensuring the sterility of the collected blood sample.

In Figures 9 and 10 I have shown a form of my invention which may be used to dispense a collected sample of blood during testing or to dispense any other sterile fluid. This form of my invention includes a tube 46 formed of any suitable material such as rubber, vinyl, polyethylene, or the like. Tube 46 is formed with a neck 48 in which I dispose a ball 50. It will readily be understood that ball 50 and the portion of neck 48 contacted by ball 50 form a valve in the same manner as ball 16 and neck 14 in the form of my invention shown in Figure 1. In this form of my invention tube 46 initially contains a sterile fluid which is to be dispensed in predetermined amounts through the neck 48. This dispensing of blood or other sterile fluid should be performed without contaminating the interior of the tube 46. The fluid may readily be dispensed by squeezing tube 46 while actuating valve 50 to permit the passage of the fluid out through neck 48. After the desired amount of fluid has been dispensed, the valve formed by ball 50 is closed to prevent the passage of contaminating air back through neck 48 and into tube 46. When the valve formed by ball 50 is closed after a dispensing operation, tube 46 is in a semicollapsed state. It is desirable that the interior of tube 46 be returned to atmospheric pressure after a dispensing operation to permit additional subsequent dispensing operations. This should be accomplished without permitting a back fiow of contaminating air through the neck 48. In order to accomplish the return of the interior of the tube 46 to atmospheric pressure without contamination, I provide an auxiliary air inlet line 52 formed of the same material as is tube 46. I dispose a ball 54 within the line 52 to form a valve with the portion of the wall of line 52 which it contacts. The end of line 52 is formed with an enlarged portion 56 in which I dispose a filter 58 formed of any suitable material such as absorbent cotton or the like. After a dispensing operation when valve 50 has been closed and tube 46 is in a semicollapsed state, valve 54 may be actuated to permit the passage of air into tube 46 through line 52 and through the portion of neck 48 between ball 50 and tube 46. Filter 58 permits the passage of air into the line 52 and traps any bacteria or material which might contaminate theinterior of tube 46. After the interior of tube 46 has been returned to atmospheric pressure and the tube has assumed its normal shape, the pressure on the valve formed by ball 54 is released to close it and another dispensing operation may be performed. It will be seen that the form of my invention shown in Figures 9 and 10 not only provides a novel blood collector with a hollow needle attached to neck 48, but also provides a means for dispensing blood or other fluid from a container in a number of separate operations without contaminating the interiorof the tube by a backfiow of air. This form of my invention may readily be employed to dispense blood typing serums, antigens, or any other materials used in biomedical testing. The concept embodied in this form of my invention may be applied to the field of hypodermic injections. In such use, repeated injections from the same container are made with a fresh sterile needle for each injection. These operations can be performed without contaminating the interior of the container.

When it is desired to use my blood sample collector, pressure is first applied to actuate the valve formed by ball 16 and neck 14 to permit the passage of fluid through the neck. The resilient receptacle 10 may then be squeezed by doubling it on itself in the manner shown in Figure 4 to force the air out of the receptacle. The pressure on neck 14 is then released to reestablish the hermetic seal provided by ball 16. It will be appreciated that when the hermetic seal is thus re-established and the tube 10 is released, the tube will remain in collapsed condition. The pressure to open the valve may be applied to neck 14 by the thumb and forefinger of the user to open the passage in neck 14 in the manner shown in Figure 5. Alternately, this pressure may be applied by clamp 26 in the manner shown in Figure 4. The clamp 26 has the advantage that it maintains the pressure to keep the passage open so that both hands are available to force the air out of tube 10. If finger pressure is employed, the size of openings 22 and 24 may be increased by rolling the neck 14 between the thumb and forefinger to take advantage of the resilience of the material all the way around the neck.

After the air has been forced out of the tube 10 and the pressure on the tube has been removed to reestablish the hermetic seal, needle 18 may be inserted in the vein of the donor. If a demountable needle is used, it must, of course, be assembled on the neck 14 before insertion into the donors vein. After the needle 18 has been inserted, pressure is again applied to neck 14 at the location of ball 16 again to break the hermetic seal. The natural resilience of tube 10 then acts to return the tube to its initial form and thereby draws blood from the donors vein. The pressure on neck 14 during the blood-drawing operation may be provided manually or by clamp 26. If clamp 26 is employed, a fine control over the valve action provided by ball 16 may be achieved. It will be appreciated that the blood-drawing operation may readily be made intermittent. At any point during the operation, pressure on neck 14 may be released to re-establish the hermetic seal and again applied at will to open the passage in neck 14. This may be accomplished without removal of the needle 18 from the donors arm and Without the necessity of using a new receptacle 10. When the blood-drawing operation is complete, the hermetic seal may immediately be re-established by releasing the pressure on neck 14. The tube may then be shipped with or without needle 18 without the necessity of providing a new seal for tube 10.

When the form of my invention shown in Figure 8 is employed, the valve formed by ball 16 and neck 14 is actuated and tube 10 is squeezed to expel the air from the tube. The valve formed by ball 16 is then closed, the needle 46 from the bottle of the blood donor set is inserted through the wall of the self-sealing tubing of neck 14, and the desired amount of blood is collected within tube 10. Needle 46 is withdrawn and neck 14 seals itself to leave tube 10 in a semicollapsed state. Valve 16 is then actuated to permit the passage of air through filter 44 and through neck 14 into tube 10 to return the interior of the tube to atmospheric pressure and permit tube 10 to assume its normal shape. Filter 44 traps bac teria and other contaminating matter in the air which flows into the tube 10 when the valve formed by ball 16 is actuated. This form of my invention provides a means for collecting blood samples without contaminating the interior of the collector.

When it is desired to dispense fluid using the form of my invention shown in Figures 9 and 10, the valve formed by ball 50 is actuated and tube 46 is squeezed until the desired amount of fluid has been dispensed. The valve formed by ball 50 is then closed to leave tube 46 in a semi-collapsed condition. In order to admit air to tube 46 to permit the tube to assume its normal shape, the valve formed by ball 54 is opened. Air passing into tube 46 through line 52 is filtered by filter 58 to prevent contamination of the interior of tube 46. When sufficient air has been admitted to permit tube 46 to return to its initial form, the valve formed by ball 54 is closed and the apparatus is ready for the next dispensing operation.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a blood sample collector including a resilient receptacle, together with a valve for selectively sealing or opening the interior of the receptacle. My blood collector provides a ready and expeditious means for collecting blood samples with a minimum of operations. The valve of my collector permits intermittent drawing of blood during a collecting operation. it also provides a means by which the rate of flow of blood from a donors vein to the collecting receptacle may be controlled. My collector is automatically sealed when the desired amount of blood has been collected. No separate seal is necessary. My blood collector is substantially unbreakable so that it may readily and safely be handled, packaged, and shipped without special care or packing. The interior of the collector receptacle is always sealed against contamination without the use of a separate sealing diaphragm.

It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is therefore to he understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A fluid collecting and dispensing device including in combination a resilient tube having a sealed end and. an open end, means forming a neck secured to said open end of said tube and communicating therewith, first valve forming means disposed Within said neck, means forming a passage communicating with said neck between said valve forming means and said tube, second valve form ing means disposed in said passage and a filter in said passage, said second valve forming means being located between said filter and said neck.

2. A fluid collecting and dispensing device including in combination a resilient tube having a sealed end and an open end, means forming a neck secured to said open end of said tube and communicating therewith, said neck being formed of a resilient material, first valve forming means disposed within said neck, resilient means forming a passage communicating with said neck between said valve forming means and said tube, second valve forming means disposed in said passage and a filter in said passage, said second valve forming means being located between said filter and said neck.

3. A device as in claim 2 in which each of said neck and said resilient means is cylindrical, the respective valve forming means comprising respective balls disposed in said neck and in said passage forming means,

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,518,165 Millard Aug. 8, 1950 2,615,446 Lingenfelter Oct. 28, 1952 2,655,152 Turner et a1. Oct. 13, 1953 

